Trip lamp



A Feb- 3 1931- E. R. HENNlNGsn-:N 1,791,358

TR I P LAMP Filed April 2,l 1930 gwuento/o abba/wma Patented Feb. 3, 11931 Y'U STATS PATN CFF TRIP LAMP Application iiled April 2,

This invention relates to improvements in trip lights for use with trip cars in coal mines and similar places.

In underground mines where trip cars are used for hauling coal or ore, it is necessary to provide each train ot' cars with a tail light that is plainly visible for a distance of several hundred feet and which can always be depended on to be in operation even when the is lighting system of the mine is out of order,

or when the trolleys have been removed from the trolley wire in electrically operated mines.

1t is the object of this invention to produce a trip light that shall be so constructed that it will stand rough usage without danger of being seriously damaged and which can be readily applied to and removed from its place on the trip car.

The above and other objects that may ap- 28 pear as the description proceeds are attained by means oit' a construction and arrangement ot parts that will now be described in detail, reference tor this purpose being` had to he accompanying drawing in which the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a cor ner of the body of a trip car and showing my improved trip light in place thereon;

F ig. 2 is a vertical section through the trip light showing the same to a larger scale than that employed' in connection with Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3 3, Fig. 2;

Fig. l is a section taken on line 1- 4, Fig. 3; and p Fig. 5 is a section through a modied form of socket.

In the drawing numeral 1 represents the box or body of the trip car and 2 the casing of my improved trip light. This casing is made from steel plates welded together at the corners and has a top end closure 3 which welded to the body of the casing in the manner shown in the drawing. One side ot the casing is provided with an opening 4 surrounded by a cylindrical iiange 5. A red lens 6 is located within the cylindrical member and is held in place by a wire 7. Se-

1930. Serial No. 441,000.

cured to the other side of the casing are two reds or pipes 8 that are bent into substantially U-shape, but have one or" the sides shorter than the other. The short sides 9 are welded to the casing one near each side thereot and the long sides of the U-shaped members are brought together into parallel relation and welded so as to form a handle 10. The opening between the sides 9 and 10 is suiiicient to receive the edge ot' the car body or box in the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The spaced portions 9 keep the body of the lamp from turning when it is in position on the car. The lower end of the casing is closed by means ot a steel plate 11 that is held against removal by means of two pins 12 in the manner shown in Fig. 2. Located within the casing is a rectangular plug 13 of insulating material. This insulating plug forms part of a lamp socket and contains an annular metal socket member 14 that is located at the bottom of an opening 15. This annular member is held in place by means of a plug 16 ot insulating material. Plug 1S has a recess 17 in which is located a spring plunger consisting of a cup-shaped housing 18 in which is slidably mounted a plug 19 that is provided at its inner end with an enlarged portion whose front end forms a shoulder that engages an inwardly turned flange 2O on the end of the cup. A spring 21 is located between the bottom of the plunger and the bottom of the cup and holds the plunger in extended position. A ange 22 eX- tends outwardly from the open end of the cup portion and this is located in an opening 28 in the inner end of plug 16. Plunger 19 is concentric with the opening in ring le and forms the center contact of the socket. The outer contact is formed by the ring 14 which is provided with an inwardly extending ilange 25 against which the screw shell contact 26 rests in the manner shownin Fig. 1. Plug 13 is provided on the side opposite from opening 15 with a recess in which is located a 9a reector 27. This reflector is held in place by suitable means and is provided with a spring holder 28 that engages the front end oi' the lamp globe 29 and holds the latter in position in the socket. It the lamp globe n i L J1 n n w contact e1 to tlieannular tonta-ct 14.

should accidentally break, the lamp base will immediately move forwardly and thus break connection with the center contact, thereby disconnecting the lamp and in this way danger of fire due to the explosion of Marsh gas is prevented. For the purpose of connecting the center contact 19 and the annular contact 14 with a battery, the )lug 13 has been provided with two spaced Contact members 3() and 31 that are embedded in the lower surface of the plug and are held in place by means of screws 32 in the manner shown in Fig. 3. A wire 33 extends from the contact member 30 to the center contact of the socket and a similar conductor 34 extends from the um@ a lamp is in place in the socket and contacts 30 and 31 are connected with the terminals of a battery, the lamp will be illuminated. The block 13 is provided at its upper end with two spaced openings in which are located spring pressed plunger-s like the one shown in Fig. 3. The electric current for the lamp is obtained from a battery which, in the lamp actually employed by me, is one cell of the well known Edison type of storage battery. This battery is provided with terminal plugs 38 to which springs ltare secured. These springs are adapte-L t contact with the contact members 3() and eas shown in Fig. 3. Since batteries of this type are constantly giving olf gas while charging, they are provided with a valve 40, and when the battery is in place this valve is held closed by the pressure of disk Ll1 on the plunger 42 to prevent the solution leaking out of the valve. The bottom of battery 37 rests on the upper surface of plate 11 in the manner shown in Fig. 2. As long as the battery is in place, and sufliciently charged, the lamp will be illuminated as I have provided no switch for controlling the light. Since the casing 2 is made of heavy steel plates and all the other parts are rugged and strong, this lamp is adapted to withstand the roughest usage without injury and can therefore be depended on to function under all ordinary circumstances.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a modification of ring 14 and this has been indicated by character numeral 14a. The difference between members 14 and 14a is that the latter is provided with threads for engaging the threads on shell 26 and therefore the springs 27 are not needed with this construction. The objection to the construction shown in Fig. 5, if any, is that if the globe 29 breaks the filaments will be exposed and may ignite the gases of the mine. Since the lamp is enclosed in a tight casing the danger of igniting the gases is negligible even with the construction shown in Fig. 5, and therefore either of the constructions shown and described can be used.

From the above description it will be seen that I have produced a very rugged trip lamp that can be easily attached to and removed from a trip car and which can also be used for a flashlight as it can be conveniently carried by handle 10. The casing within which the parts are enclosed is exceptionally strong and is therefore capable of withstanding rough usage. The circular flange 5 extends forwardly beyond the lens 6 and protects the latter against breakage.

The block 1.3 can be made from any suitable insulating material such as a vulcanite, bakelite, porcelain or any other suitable material, including wood.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is: Y Y

A safety trip lamp comprising, in combination, a housing open at one end and closed at the other, a handle secured to one side thereof, the other` side having an opening, a lens for closing the opening, a. lamp socket located within the casing adjacent the closed end, said socket consisting of a block of insulating material of the propel' size to fit the casing, one side of said block having a recess in which is located a reflector, one end of the block having spring pressed plungers adapted to engage the closed end of the casing, the other end of the block having two spaced contact plates, a center and outside contact carried by the block and adapted to form socket terminals, conductors extending from the contact plates to the socket terminals, a. battery located in the casing between the lamp socket and the open end of the casing, a removable closure for the open end of the casing, and means for holding the end closure in position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

EDGAR R. HENNINGSEN. 

